Wow, I finally finished reading all 179 pages. I started reading it once I noticed I missed a couple of events (I didn't have a metapod for Beedrill to steal...etc).

So many repeated posts!

Also, in term of the Metapod debate. I personally think he'll come back. At least reading past posts, he disappears frequently but then comes back after a long time and releases some stuff and then disappears again. Pretty reasonable.

He only has 4 episodes until the next one? I think he'll one day wake up and go "hmm maybe I should work on it a litte." Then finish the last 4 episodes and release the next beta. Then he'll leave again and perhaps quit (if he decides to code some sort of ending) or come back after another long hiatus and release 4.5/5.